The Portland daily press., 1887-11-05
WOMEN WHO DRIVE.
Sights Daily Seen In the Streets and
Parks.of the creatcIty.
On. Evening world1

Driving Is more than ever In vogue with
that class Of New York women who own
horses and take the air in their private car
riages. The feminine whips make quite
feature in the professional Of swell turnOuts
that streams through Central Park from
O'Clock until 8. They are as striking as the
equestriennes When the throng Of carriages
pours out Of the Fifth avenue entrance 10 the
Park and the world and its wife rattles over
the smooth street on its way home TO dinner,
numbers Of young women-they are usually
young, whether matrOns or maids-attract
attention by the adaptness with which they
handle the reins.
The women affect several styles Of vehicle.
The village cart still holds its own. but the
most correct thing Is a carefully appointed
"spider" phaet0n and a pair Of spanking
cobs, their tails locked, the hoofs glistenlng
and their well grOOmed TANKS shining like
mirrors. Behind, on his airy perch, funk
ey sits In statuesque reDOse, his arms tightly
folded and his English face as expressiOnless
as a tlat-ir0n. Yet his mistress can give him
a point or two. She sits bolt upright and
keeps her mind on the guidance OF her
horses. The same girl In Victoria, with a
bulky coaehman managing the reins, would
droop as languidly in her aristoeratic Tepose
as whiting flower, but not when she is do
ing the driving.
Her trim figure Is neatly defined by q tailor
made suit, her gloYed hands exert a firm
pressure on the reins, and with quick eye
she guides her c0bs knowingly through the
opposing currents. Attention TO the work In
hand gives shade Of greater frmness to the
soft curves Of her mouth.
They like 10 drive fast stock" said an
admiring stable man, who was watching a
lady drive off. She was in a two-wheeled
gig, heavy English-looking team, practical
ly tllDury with TOP. The reins came pref
~ taughtly through the driving-bar as the
big horse tggged at them, chahng to let him
self out. When the fair driver gets out into
an open street she gives him his head more.
She was the wife Of the proprietor Of q large
Seventh avenue stable.
They like 1t, especially the swell young so
ciety girls. Women are always drawn to
what Is manish in the way Of exercise or di-
version If the prophecies smile on it and
fashion sets her seal thereon. It Is a good.
wholesome habit. and the afternoon drive In
the Park is raised still more 10 a hy gienie
base. Usually only that class to whom lux
ury is daily occurrence demands the per-
feet OUTFIT which Is part Of the enjoyment,
Livery stables do not care TO keep such teams
to let, as rule. 1t Is too muce trouble and
expense TO keep them in the perfect order
they require, and not many would like to pay
the price they would demand. The team
must be unexceptioDal In the smallest de-
tails, even to the knot of gayly colored rib
bon which ties down the lash Of the whip.
lhe Worlu tnat urlVes Is iamlllar with an
other lady whip whose pair Of mettlesOme
bays are seen daily spinning along upper
Fifth avenue and the Park. Miss Cook
handles the ribbons like a mistress In the
art, and her bright checks and eyes are a
good comment on the healthy diversion
which her sex has usurped
A woman can drive as well as man. Not
all do, of course. But everybody who knows
anything about horses is aware that brute
force Is not the chief element in their con-
troll SnDoQ of tbQ dalfaafa loaLrfror cir
vey mystery to the horse by their judieious
pressure on the reins that the animal often
fails to find In the handling Of the masculine
whips. Your real spirited girl, who likes
driving, does net content herself with a
her brisky stepping cob and she will get
out of him his best work and her soul win DO
glad.